Goods feeding system for mounting on a goods receiving arm

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a goods feeding system for mounting on a goods receiving arm and for orienting goods that are received on the goods receiving arm at an end of the goods receiving arm, with the following features:
         a feeding means that is guided to slide along the goods receiving arm in a feeding direction (V) to feed the goods,   an attaching means that can be attached at the free end, and   a spring that acts in the feeding direction (V) between the attaching means and the feeding means, characterized in that the feeding means comprises a first folding section and a second folding section that can be folded together with the first folding section, whereby the goods receiving arm can be received guided to slide between the first folding section and the second folding section in an operating position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a goods feeding system for mounting on a goods receiving arm and for orienting goods received on the goods receiving arm at a free end of the goods receiving arm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such goods feeding systems are shown in EP 0 848 594 B1, whose object is to configure a goods feeding system that is referred to as a pusher in such a way that the pusher can be mounted on an existing goods receiving arm.

The object of this invention is to simplify the mounting of known goods feeding systems and at the same time to indicate a goods feeding system that can be used in an even larger variety of ways.

This object is achieved with the features of claim 1 or claim 10. Advantageous further developments of the invention are indicated in the subclaims. All combinations that consist of at least two of the features that are indicated in the specification, in the claims and/or the drawings also fall within the scope of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the idea of simplifying the mounting by providing special feeding agents with first and second folding sections.

If the first folding section is connected to the second folding section via a joint that is designed in particular in an integral manner with the first and the second folding sections, the two folding sections are designed so that they will not be lost in such a way that an at least partial preliminary mounting of the goods feeding system is made possible.

The goods receiving arm, which is designed in particular as a standard hook, consists of two rails that run in parallel or wires that run together at an attaching end, so that a U-shaped basic shape is produced. At the opposite end, the goods are put onto one of the rails. On the other rail, for example, display means are provided.

The feeding means according to the invention for feeding the goods along the goods receiving arm have only one degree of freedom in the feeding direction V relative to the goods receiving arm in the mounted position or operating position. By folding apart the feeding means and, in so doing, receiving the goods receiving arm, the feeding means can be removed from the goods receiving arm or can be mounted in the opposite direction, i.e., by folding together.

The feeding means are prestressed by a spring that acts between the feeding means and the attaching means attached to the goods receiving arm in the feeding direction V, by which goods lying on the feeding means are advanced up to the free end of the goods receiving arm, where a stop on the goods receiving arm and/or on the goods feeding system is provided to automatically arrange the foremost goods in a defined position at the free end.

In this case, it is especially advantageous when the first folding section can be locked with the second folding section in the operating position. This is used in the simplification of the mounting of the goods feeding system on the goods receiving arm.

It is also conceivable according to the invention that the attaching means has a stop section that is designed like a spring in particular at least in the feeding direction V. The stop section thus counteracts the tendency of the goods, produced by the spring and the feeding means, to fall from the rail. The goods thus can be removed only by overcoming the type of extraction specified by the design action, in particular the spring action, of the stop section.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the feeding means comprises a spring receiver, designed in particular in an integral manner with the feeding means, for at least partial receiving of the spring. As a result, the number of necessary components is further reduced, which simplifies the mounting and lowers the production costs.

By the spring receiver being formed in the operating position by the first folding section and the second folding section, a design of the goods feeding system that is even simpler to mount is provided.

Since the spring receiver has a spring opening for guiding the spring through in the feeding direction V, a secure function of the goods feeding with optimal orientation of the goods in each position of the feeding means is ensured.

According to the invention, the feeding means can have a first guide channel, formed in particular in the operating position by the first folding section and the second folding section, for receiving, in particular for slip guiding, one of the rails, as well as a second guide channel, formed in particular in the operating position by the first folding section and the second folding section, for receiving, in particular for slip guiding, the other rail. In this way, when folded together, guide channels are provided at the same time for slip guiding of the goods receiving arm, so that additional guide means can be eliminated. The mounting is accelerated, and the production costs are reduced to a minimum.

The production costs are still further reduced by the feeding means comprising a support surface that points in the feeding direction V, formed in particular in the operating position by the first folding section and/or the second folding section.

An especially secure connection of the attaching means to the goods receiving arm is made possible according to the invention by the attaching means having at least one locking connection that runs in the feeding direction V and/or at least one locking connection that runs crosswise to the feeding direction V. In this way, the locking connection can be formed from a detent of the second folding section that locks into a locking receiver of the first folding section. The locking connections advantageously have one detent each.

The feeding means, the spring and the attaching means are preferably designed to be mounted in advance so that that the components do not have to be separated during the mounting. This simplifies shipping, since the components can be connected to one another in such a way that they will not be lost.

In addition, an advantageous embodiment of the invention exists in that the attaching means at the same time forms a receiving space for display means.

Other advantages, features, and details of the invention follow from the description below of preferred embodiments and based on the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a goods feeding system according to the invention in a first mounting step;

FIG. 2 a is a perspective view of a goods receiving arm and an attaching means according to the invention;

FIG. 2 b is a perspective view of the goods feeding system according to FIG. 1 in another mounting step;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the goods feeding system according to FIG. 1 in another mounting step; and

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b are perspective views of the goods feeding system in an operating position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the figures, the same elements or elements that have the same effect are identified with the same reference numbers.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, a goods feeding system 1 is shown in the mounting on a goods receiving arm 50 that is designed as a standard hook. The goods receiving arm 50 consists of two rails 51, 51′ that run parallel up to an end 52, whereby the rail 51′ is arranged above the rail 51 and extends above the latter to present display means that are readily visible to the customers.

On the opposite attaching end 54, the goods receiving arm 50 hooks onto or plugs into a frame system, as is known for such standard hooks in the state of the art. The goods receiving arm 50 is used for receiving goods, whose packaging in most cases is provided with a through opening or hooks, through which the packaging is put onto the rail 51. It is easily conceivable that it is desirable in the presentation of goods to arrange the goods in each case flush at the end 52 of the goods receiving arm 50, so that the customer can readily see and easily remove the goods.

To this end, the goods feeding system 1, which can be mounted on the goods receiving arm 50 that is designed as a standard hook with handles that are simple and few in number, is used.

The goods feeding system 1 consists of feeding means 2 for feeding the goods in a feeding direction V, i.e., in the direction of the end 52 or the display means. In the embodiment, the feeding system corresponds to the direction of removal of the goods.

In addition, the goods feeding system 1 consists of an attaching means 3 that can be attached relative to the feeding means 2 to the goods feeding arm 50 and a spring 4 that acts between the feeding means 2 and the attaching means 3. Since the attaching means 3 are attached to the goods receiving arm 50, while the feeding means 2 are guided to slide along the rails 51, 51′, the goods that are assigned to or suspended on the goods receiving arm 50 in the feeding direction V before the feeding means 2 are automatically loaded with a thrust force in the direction of the end 52 by the spring force of the spring 4. The goods rest on a support surface 19 of the feeding means 2, which simultaneously provides for a straight orientation of the goods.

The feeding means 2 is formed from a first folding section 5 and a second folding section 6, which is hinged via a joint 7 to the first folding section 5. The folding sections 5, 6 have a corresponding elongated shape, and the hinge 7 is arranged on a short side of the folding section, so that a pliers-like shape of the feeding means 2 is produced with a pliers-type folding movement. The folding movement is carried out in the mounting on the goods receiving arm 50 crosswise to the rails 51, 51′. The support surface 19 is formed by the common surface, pointing in the feeding direction V, of the folding sections 5, 6 in the folded-together state.

In this case, the spring 4 is designed as a tension spring. The spring 4 is guided through a spring opening 21 of the feeding means 2 behind the support surface 19. The feeding means 2 therefore advantageously forms a spring receiver 23 at the same time for a spring roll section 24 of the spring 4. In this way, the spring opening 21 is used with lateral sliding surfaces 22, 22′ for guiding the spring 4 during the rolling off and on of the spring roll section 24 by moving the feeding means 2 in the feeding direction V. The spring opening 21 is provided in a projection 9, running crosswise to the feeding direction V, of the second folding section 6.

In the first mounting step shown in FIG. 1, the spring 4 is moved through the spring opening 21 with its angled spring attaching end 20 lying in the feeding direction V until the spring roll section 24 is received in the spring receiver 23 that is as yet not closed or the half of the spring receiver 23 that is formed by the second folding section 6 and rests on the back of the support surface 19.

The attaching means 3 consists of a display section 12 that points in the feeding direction V, the first attaching section 10, and a second attaching section 11. The attaching sections 10, 11 extend on opposing sides of the display section 12 opposite to the feeding direction V and parallel to the display section 12 and point to one another at their ends 10 e, 11 e. The attaching sections 10, 11 with the display section 12 form a receiving space 13, in which display means can be received for pricing or other identification of goods. At the same time, the receiving space 13 is used for attaching the attaching means 3 to an attaching plate 55 of the goods receiving arm 50. The attaching means 3 (more precisely: the receiving space 13) is—as shown in FIG. 2 a—pushed from the side or crosswise to the feeding direction V onto the goods receiving arm 50 (more precisely: the attaching plate 55).

In the additional mounting step shown in FIG. 2 b, the spring attaching end 20 is attached to a first attaching section 10 of the attaching means 3.

The angled spring attaching end 20 is laterally plugged into an attaching element 10 f of the attaching section 10 or inserted crosswise to the feeding direction V into the attaching element 10 f and in this respect attached to the attaching section 10 in the feeding direction V.

In addition, the attaching means 3 has a spring-like stop section 8. The latter is formed on the attaching section 11 and points opposite to the feeding direction V.

In the additional mounting step shown in FIG. 3, the unit that consists of feeding means 2, attaching means 3 and spring 4 that is mounted in advance has been put onto the goods feeding arm 50, namely crosswise to the feeding direction V. To put it more precisely, the attaching plate 55 is received in the receiving space 13 by the goods feeding system 1 being oriented toward the goods feeding arm 50, and the receiving space 13 at its lateral opening of the receiving space 13 is plugged into the attaching plate 55 until the attaching plate 55 is completely received in the receiving space 13.

In so doing, a guide channel 14, 15 that is still not closed comes to rest on the respective rail 51, 51′ based on the shape of the goods feeding system 1 that is matched to the configuration of the goods feeding arm 50 that is designed as a standard hook.

In the last mounting step shown in FIG. 3, the feeding means 2 is closed by folding together the folding sections 5, 6 in an operating position (see FIGS. 4 a and 4 b), whereby a detent 17 is locked into a corresponding locking receiver 18 or engages behind the latter. The detent 17 and the locking receiver 18 are arranged in an equidistant manner to the joint 7 on the folding sections 5, 6 and form a locking connection in the folded-together state of the feeding means 2. Several corresponding locking connections can be provided along the folding sections 5, 6.

By the locking-in of the locking connection, it is simultaneously ensured that the goods feeding system 1 is correctly positioned, since when folded together, the spring receiver 23 that is formed by the folding sections 5, 6 and the guide channels 14, 15 that are formed by the folding section 5, 6 are also brought to completion.

The guide channel 14 that is circular in cross-section receives the upper rail 51′ that is also circular in cross-section and is shaped in such a way that the rail 51′ is guided to slide in the feeding direction V. In this way, the diameter of the guide channel 14 is slightly larger than the diameter of the rail 51′.

The guide channel 15 that is circular in cross-section receives the lower rail 51 that is also circular in cross-section and is shaped in such a way that the feeding means 2 stops at the end 52 (see FIG. 4 b) since the rail 51 is angled at the end 52 in such a way that the rails 51, 51′ that otherwise run in parallel converge in this section.

The feeding means 2 thus has freedom of movement only along the rails 51, 51′, i.e., in the feeding direction V. The guide channels are at least twice as long as the diameter of the rails 51, 51′.

The goods feeding system 1 is in its operating position, and the system according to the invention is produced.

The spring 4 rolls off at an increasing distance of the feeding means 2 from the end 52 or from the spring attaching end 20 against its spring force behind the support surface 19, in such a way that the goods that are stacked on the rail 51 are always pressed in the direction of the stop section 8 and are oriented flush at the end 52.

The stop section 8 simultaneously serves to prevent inadvertent falling and damaging of the goods. When stacking the goods or the goods packaging, the stop section 8 can be compressed by its spring-like action in the feeding direction V, so that a passage for stacking the goods is made free between the stop section 8 and the rail 51.

The goods receiving arm 50 or the rail 51 can be filled by moving the feeding means 2 against the spring force of the spring 4 until either the spring 4 or a rear stop of the goods receiving arm 50 stops the feeding means 2.

To simplify the filling of the goods receiving arm 50, a holder 16 for attaching the feeding means 2 to the attaching end 54 in the maximum drawn-out position is provided, so that during the filling of the goods receiving arm 50, the function of the spring 4 or the feeding means 2 is deactivated. In this way, the holder 16, as shown in FIG. 4 a, is hooked onto the attaching end 54. After the goods receiving arm 50 is filled, the holder 16 can then be detached to put the goods feeding system 1 into its operating position. 

1. Goods feeding system for mounting on a goods receiving arm and for orienting goods that are received on the goods receiving arm at an end of the goods receiving arm, with the following features: a feeding means that is guided to slide along the goods receiving arm in a feeding direction (V) to feed the goods, an attaching means that can be attached at the free end, and a spring that acts in the feeding direction (V) between the attaching means and the feeding means, characterized in that the feeding means comprises a first folding section and a second folding section that can be folded together with the first folding section, whereby in an operating position, the goods receiving arm can be received guided to slide between the first folding section and the second folding section.
 2. Goods feeding system according to claim 1, wherein the first folding section is connected to the second folding section via a hinge that is designed in particular in an integral manner with the first folding section and the second folding section.
 3. Goods feeding system according to claim 1, wherein the first folding section can be locked with the second folding section in the operating position.
 4. Goods feeding system according to claim 1, wherein the attaching means has a stop section that is designed like a spring in particular at least in the feeding direction (V).
 5. Goods feeding system according to claim 1, wherein the feeding means comprises a spring receiver that is designed in particular in an integral manner with the feeding means for at least partial receiving of the spring.
 6. Goods feeding system according to claim 5, wherein the spring receiver is formed in the operating position by the first folding section and the second folding section.
 7. Goods feeding system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the spring receiver has a spring opening for guiding the spring through in the feeding direction (V).
 8. Goods feeding system according to claim 1, wherein the feeding means has a first guide channel, formed in particular in the operating position by the first folding section and the second folding section, for receiving, in particular for slip guiding, one of rails, as well as a second guide channel, formed in particular in the operating position by the first folding section and the second folding section, for receiving, in particular for slip guiding, the other rail.
 9. Goods feeding system according to claim 1, wherein the feeding means comprises a support surface that points in the feeding direction and that is formed in particular in the operating position by the first folding section and the second folding section.
 10. System that consists of a goods feeding system according to claim 1, as well as a goods receiving arm. 